Police chief :dont pick sides

One of Papua New Guinea’s two police commissioners has appealed to his officers not to pick sides in the ongoing political crisis that has gripped the nation.

The force has two police commissioners – Tom Kulunga, appointed by Peter O’Neill, and Fred Yakasa, who was reappointed by Sir Michael Somare on Monday night. But there is a small contingent of police officers loyal to the Somare camp, some of whom attempted to block the path of Mr O’Neill and his supporters as they approached Government House on Tuesday in an attempt to see the Governor-General, Michael Ogio.

Mr O’Neill struggled through two police cordons but could not get past the locked gates.

A heavily-armed contingent of guards was blocking the street leading up to Government House yesterday.

As the crisis deepened yesterday, Mr Kulunga called on the public and the nation’s leaders to keep calm.

“I call upon members of the [PNG Police Force] in particular to be neutral, uphold the rule of law and remain focused on protecting and serving the people," he said .

“Senior officers as well as the rank and file are intact and committed to protecting and serving the people of PNG.

“We will ensure that there is peace, law and order."

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But the difficulty for the police force was heightened yesterday when, in parliament, Mr O’Neill’s supporters voted unopposed for a motion requiring Mr Kulunga to “assist" the Governor-General on his journey to parliament to swear in Mr O’Neill.

A spokesman for the Royal PNG Police Constabulary said the force’s hierarchy was deciding what to do with the O’Neill parliament’s order.

“It is something we are considering in-house," he told AAP.

Meanwhile, PNG’s defence force chief has dismissed rumours of a possible military coup. “The defence force neither seeks, nor would accept, any part to play in the politics of this country," defence force chief Brigadier General Francis Agwi told the Post-Courier newspaper.

“The PNGDF has no political position and takes no political sides."

Another defence chief, General Jerry Singirok, also said the disciplined forces would protect law and order, but would not be drawn into the political clash.